UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Parties must get advertisements pre-certified
Q1. Under the Supreme Court's order of April 2004, political advertisements proposed to be telecast on television and cable networks during an election must be certified, prior to broadcast, by which one of the following bodies?
- A. A Media Certification and Monitoring Committee constituted by the Election Commission of India
- B. The Central Board of Film Certification
- C. The Press Council of India
- D. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Q2. The plenary power of the Election Commission of India to issue directions such as mandatory pre-certification of political advertisements is primarily traced to which one of the following Articles of the Constitution?
- A. Article 324
- B. Article 329
- C. Article 243K
- D. Article 325
Q3. With reference to the State-level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC), consider the following:
1. The Chief Electoral Officer of the State chairs the Committee.
2. An officer nominated by the Press Information Bureau serves on the Committee.
3. The Additional Chief Electoral Officer acts as the Member Secretary.
4. The Comptroller and Auditor General nominates a representative to the Committee.
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly described?
- The Chief Electoral Officer of the State chairs the Committee.
- An officer nominated by the Press Information Bureau serves on the Committee.
- The Additional Chief Electoral Officer acts as the Member Secretary.
- The Comptroller and Auditor General nominates a representative to the Committee.
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 only
- C. 3 and 4
- D. 4 only
Q4. At the district level, the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) is chaired by which one of the following officials?
- A. The District Election Officer / District Magistrate
- B. The Chief Electoral Officer of the State
- C. The Returning Officer of the constituency
- D. The Additional Chief Electoral Officer
Q5. Consider the following pairs relating to the regulation of paid news:
1. Umlesh Yadav — first politician disqualified by the ECI in a paid-news related matter
2. Section 10A, Representation of the People Act, 1951 — disqualification for failure to lodge account of election expenses
3. Press Council of India — body whose adjudication against the newspapers preceded the ECI's action
4. Central Vigilance Commission — statutory body that defines and penalises 'paid news' under the RP Act
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- Umlesh Yadav — first politician disqualified by the ECI in a paid-news related matter
- Section 10A, Representation of the People Act, 1951 — disqualification for failure to lodge account of election expenses
- Press Council of India — body whose adjudication against the newspapers preceded the ECI's action
- Central Vigilance Commission — statutory body that defines and penalises 'paid news' under the RP Act
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 3 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q6. Consider the following statements comparing the roles of different authorities in handling paid news:
1. The Press Council of India can only censure or admonish erring newspapers, whereas disqualification of a candidate for concealing paid-news expenditure is ordered by the Election Commission.
2. 'Paid news' is defined as a specific electoral offence carrying a term of imprisonment under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
3. In the enforcement chain, the Returning Officer issues notice to the candidate on the direction of the MCMC.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The Press Council of India can only censure or admonish erring newspapers, whereas disqualification of a candidate for concealing paid-news expenditure is ordered by the Election Commission.
- 'Paid news' is defined as a specific electoral offence carrying a term of imprisonment under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
- In the enforcement chain, the Returning Officer issues notice to the candidate on the direction of the MCMC.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q7. With reference to the Election Commission's March 2026 pre-certification directive, consider the following:
1. Pre-certification applies to advertisements on television and radio.
2. Pre-certification applies to advertisements on internet-based platforms and social media.
3. Print advertisements require pre-certification only on the poll day and the day immediately preceding it.
4. Bulk SMS/messaging services are entirely excluded from the pre-certification requirement.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- Pre-certification applies to advertisements on television and radio.
- Pre-certification applies to advertisements on internet-based platforms and social media.
- Print advertisements require pre-certification only on the poll day and the day immediately preceding it.
- Bulk SMS/messaging services are entirely excluded from the pre-certification requirement.
- A. 3 only
- B. 4 only
- C. 3 and 4
- D. 1 and 2
Q8. Consider the following statements about the Election Commission's 2026 pre-certification framework:
1. Contesting candidates and individuals apply for certification to the District-level MCMC.
2. Recognised political parties headquartered in a State/UT apply to the State-level MCMC.
3. The framework was issued following the announcement of the election schedule on 15 March 2026.
4. Certification of political advertisements under the framework is granted by the Central Board of Film Certification.
Which of the statements given above is/are correctly identified?
- Contesting candidates and individuals apply for certification to the District-level MCMC.
- Recognised political parties headquartered in a State/UT apply to the State-level MCMC.
- The framework was issued following the announcement of the election schedule on 15 March 2026.
- Certification of political advertisements under the framework is granted by the Central Board of Film Certification.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 4 only
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q9. Consider the following statements about the Election Commission's 2026 norms on digital campaigning:
1. Political parties must submit a statement of internet/social-media campaign expenditure within 75 days of completion of the Assembly elections.
2. Candidates must disclose their authentic social media accounts in the nomination affidavit.
3. Internet campaign expenditure includes payments to internet companies and websites for advertisements and content development.
4. The statement of internet campaign expenditure must be filed within 30 days of the declaration of results.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- Political parties must submit a statement of internet/social-media campaign expenditure within 75 days of completion of the Assembly elections.
- Candidates must disclose their authentic social media accounts in the nomination affidavit.
- Internet campaign expenditure includes payments to internet companies and websites for advertisements and content development.
- The statement of internet campaign expenditure must be filed within 30 days of the declaration of results.
- A. 1, 2 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q10. As per the Election Commission's 2026 norms, a political party must submit its statement of internet and social-media campaign expenditure to the Commission within a maximum of how many days of the completion of the Assembly elections?
- A. 75 days
- B. 30 days
- C. 45 days
- D. 90 days
Q11. Consider the following statements about the Model Code of Conduct (MCC):
1. Unlike the pre-certification requirement, which is traceable to statutory rules and a Supreme Court order, the MCC has no statutory backing and derives its force from consensus between political parties and the ECI.
2. The MCC comes into force immediately upon the announcement of the election schedule by the Election Commission.
3. Every provision of the MCC is directly enforceable in a court of law and its violation invariably attracts imprisonment.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Unlike the pre-certification requirement, which is traceable to statutory rules and a Supreme Court order, the MCC has no statutory backing and derives its force from consensus between political parties and the ECI.
- The MCC comes into force immediately upon the announcement of the election schedule by the Election Commission.
- Every provision of the MCC is directly enforceable in a court of law and its violation invariably attracts imprisonment.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q12. With reference to the Election Commission of India, consider the following:
1. It was established under Article 324 and became functional on 25 January 1950.
2. Under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, the Prime Minister is a member of the Selection Committee for appointment of the CEC and ECs.
3. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha (or leader of the largest opposition party) is a member of that Selection Committee.
4. The Chief Justice of India is a member of the Selection Committee under the 2023 Act.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- It was established under Article 324 and became functional on 25 January 1950.
- Under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, the Prime Minister is a member of the Selection Committee for appointment of the CEC and ECs.
- The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha (or leader of the largest opposition party) is a member of that Selection Committee.
- The Chief Justice of India is a member of the Selection Committee under the 2023 Act.
- A. 1 only
- B. 4 only
- C. 3 and 4
- D. 2 and 4